William R. Munroe

HAMDEN, CT.-William Roberts Munroe, 81, of Hamden, Connecticut, died on February 15, 2024. Bill was born in Quincy, Massachusetts, to George Burden Munroe, Jr., and Mary Hunter Roberts Munroe. His family moved to Williamsburg, Massachusetts, when he was a pre-teen, and he graduated from Williamsburg High School in 1960. He graduated from the College of William and Mary in Williamsburg, Virginia, in 1964 and earned his law degree from the Marshall-Wythe School of Law at William and Mary in 1966. Bill served in the U.S. Army from 1966 to 1968 and was stationed in South Korea, as a second lieutenant in the Adjutant General Corps. Upon returning home, he was employed in the trust department at First New Haven National Bank and remained through various buyouts and mergers until his retirement in 2007. Bill was known for his unfailing charm, winning smile, and sunny disposition. He was quick with a compliment and told funny, engaging stories, often about his own mishaps. He made you feel as if you were the most-important person in the room. Bill met his partner, Jane, in the 1970s, when she rented the apartment above his in a New Haven mansion once owned by P.T. Barnum. He referred to any noise coming through the ceiling as “the footsteps of an angel." Bill and Jane traveled to England many times and took regular trips into New York City, often with friends, to enjoy a Broadway show, a meal at Sardi’s, and perhaps drinks at The Plaza. They often visited Jane’s family home in Camden, Maine, where Bill would enjoy drives in the countryside and along the coast. Bill was a lifelong fan of music, theater, and movies. He was president of the Teresa Brewer Fan Club and friend of the singer. He followed the Billboard Hot 100 and “number one with a bullet” was a favorite compliment bestowed upon others. Bill is survived by his life partner, Jane Knowles Marshall; twin brother John Bingham (Bing) Munroe; sister-in-law Henrietta Ronka Munroe; nieces and a nephew; and many friends, some of long duration. He cared deeply for all. He was predeceased by his parents, brother George Burden Munroe, III, and sister Janet Munroe Pynchon. There are no calling hours. A Graveside Service will be held in the Spring at Village Hill Cemetery, Williamsburg.